Pakistan have been bowled out on just 99 runs against South Africa in the first innings of the second Test. It’s the same score Pakistan made one and a half year ago on the same ground against England. But back then, Pakistan defeated England, clinching a historic 3-0 victory in the series. Can Pakistan repeat the history in the ongoing Test against the Proteas?

Pakistan’s start was quite disappointing as they opted to bat after winning the toss. From the dismissal of Khurram Manzoor in the first over, the team lost back-to-back wickets, and most batsmen became victims of their poor shot selection.

Pakistan were 52/2 when Imran Tahir came to turn Pakistan batting line-up upside down. He first dismissed Shan Madood and then claimed key wickets of Misbahul Haq and Asad Shafiq. The 23-run partnership in the last wicket between Zulfiqar Babar and Junaid Khan helped Pakistan reach 99.

Tahir did the best bowling of his career, taking 5 wickets off 32 runs.

In February 2012, Pakistan started their third Test against England on the same ground with a 2-0 lead. Pakistan won the toss and made 99 runs in the first innings. After such a bad start, Pakistan rose from the ashes and stunned England with their bowling and batting heroics. England could only make 141 runs, thanks to Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman who didn’t let the opponents take a big lead. The centuries by Azhar Ali and Younis Khan in the second innings guided Pakistan to a respectable total of 365. Chasing a 324-run target, English batting line-up succumbed after making 252 runs. Pakistan had whitewashed the then world’s best Test team 3-0. It was first time in the past 100 years that a team won a match after being dismissed below 100 in the first innings.